SPRINGFIELD, IL (Chambana Today) – A new Illinois law, House Bill 4942, has taken effect as of January 1, requiring coroners and medical examiners to notify law enforcement and the Department of Public Health when suspiciously high levels of fentanyl are found during an autopsy.
The law mandates that the Illinois Department of Public Health adopt rules outlining specific information that must be included in a coroner or medical examiner’s report. This includes details on whether fentanyl was part or all of a substance consumed in a fatal overdose.
Other key reporting requirements include the identification of additional substances consumed, the proportion of fentanyl to other substances, and whether the levels of fentanyl in combination with other controlled substances were suspicious.
For a full list of new Illinois laws beginning in 2025, visit the Illinois General Assembly website or click here.